Global classification of isolated singularities in dimensions $(4,3)$ and $(8,5)$

Abstract

We characterize those closed $2k$-manifolds admitting smooth maps into $(k+1)$-manifolds with only finitely many critical points, for $k\in\{2,4\}$. We compute then the minimal number of critical points of such smooth maps for $k=2$ and, under some fundamental group restrictions, also for $k=4$. The main ingredients are King's local classification of isolated singularities, decomposition theory, low dimensional cobordisms of spherical fibrations and 3-manifolds topology.